First music festival highlighting BIPOC performers coming to Victoria
For the first time ever, a music festival showcasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) artists that's organized by BIPOC community members is coming to Victoria.
The all-ages music festival, called Function Festival, will be held at Ship Point in Victoria on Aug. 20 from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Seven local artists from Victoria and Vancouver will perform at the festival, which will also include food, vendors, and a graffiti station.
"The festival initially started with me actually being here [in Centennial Square] two years ago and being in the peace rally for black lives," said festival producer Charity Williams.
Williams says she remembers feeling a sense of community when looking out onto the crowd that year, but also a sense of communal pain and tragedy.
Thousands of people came together at Victoria's Centennial Square to hold a demonstration in support of the Black Lives Matter movement: June 7, 2020 (Stephanie Roussinos)
"I really wanted to recreate this space but out of somewhere that came from joy and entertainment – and love and gathering and community," she said.
Tickets for the music festival are $35 each, but children under 12 will be able to attend for free.
Students can also get a 25 per cent discount on tickets if they purchase through the festival's website.
Musicians for the festival include headliner Kaash Paige, Boslen, Prado Monro, Turunesh, Micky Weekes, Notorious Cree, and 11:11.
"People can look forward to a bunch of different activities," said Williams.
"We have four food vendors, a vendor alley of all BIPOC vendors and a full day of music," she said.
A barber will also be onsite, with the first five people in line receiving a free haircut.
"I hope everyone can make it out and I think it's going to be a really amazing day," said Williams.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.